Castles in the Sand (Paperback)

Mark S. Foster

ISBN 10: 0813080207 / ISBN 13: 9780813080208

Published by University Press of Florida, Florida, 2023

About this Item

Paperback. The definitive biography of the famous developer of Miami BeachIn the booming early years of the 20th century, few entrepreneurs rivaled Carl Fisher (1874-1939) for sheer energy and imagination. Born in Indiana, he began as a bicycle racer and salesman, made his first fortune perfecting and marketing the automobile headlight, helped build the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and headed promotion of the Indy 500, and was a moving force behind the development of the Lincoln and Dixie highways, Americas first improved transcontinental roads. But all of these accomplishments were only prologue to his grandest adventure, as primary developer and promoter of Miami Beach.This definitive biography of Fisher, abundantly illustrated and written in an engaging style, captures the headiness of the period. Mark Foster traces Fishers transformation of the South Florida landscape into a tourists dream of golf, polo, deep sea fishing, and luxury hotels and his animation of that dream with bronzed lifeguards, bathing beauties flashing new swimsuit styles, and visiting dignitaries who generated a stream of tantalizing headlines.Foster also treats Fishers troubles with labor and with Miami businessmen, his attempted development of Montauk on Long Island, New York, and the collapse of the entire Fisher enterprise in the wake of the 1926 hurricane and the great stock market crash of 1929. Throughout, he sets Fishers insights, triumphs, loves, and shortcomings into the context of the early 20th century.This biography of a great corporate builder reveals the emergence of a new American way of life. The man whose genius for promotion turned a swampy spit of land into a luxurious urban locale also framed aspirations of leisure and entertainment for generations of Americans. In the booming early years of the 20th century, few entrepreneurs rivaled Carl Fisher (1874-1939) for sheer energy and imagination. This definitive biography of Fisher, abundantly illustrated and written in an engaging style, captures the headiness of the period. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780813080208

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Castles in the Sand (Paperback)
• Publisher: University Press of Florida, Florida
• Publication Date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0813080207
• ISBN 13: 9780813080208
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

This is the definitive biography of a famous developer and fascinating entrepreneur. Born in Indiana, Carl Fisher helped build the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and headed promotion for the Indy 500. But these feats were only prologue to his grandest adventure, as primary developer and promoter of Miami Beach.

About the Author

Mark S. Foster was professor of history at the University of Colorado, Denver. His many books include From Streetcar to Superhighway: American City Planners and Urban Transportation, 1900-1940 and Henry J. Kaiser: Builder in the Modern American West.